Can my dog travel by car for a short trip after ACL surgery?

Yes the airline would allow you to fly him as long as his leg doesn't have any external wounds that aren't being properly treated or any other injuries that would deem him unstable to fly. A CCL rupture isn't an injury that would make him ineligible to fly. Best wishes with the surgery for Isco and I hope he gets well soon. Best wishes and take care.

Hello, and thanks for your question. I would double check with your vet (who knows the specifics of the type of fracture Ernie sustained and how strict they want you to be with your exercise restriction), but I would probably be ok with you driving with him, as long as he's confined in the car so he won't be bouncing around. He should be in a well-padded small kennel where he can lay safely and not be jostled or at risk of falling over. However, make sure you're following your vet's guidelines on how much activity he's allowed to have on your trip! Hope this helps!

Thank you for submitting your question regarding your dog. If her mobility is back to normal, then it is fine for her to go up and down stairs. If this exercise seems to cause her any discomfort, then I would avoid it. However, it should not cause her any problems. I hope this information helps!

It takes months for the swelling to completely resolve. Up to 6 months before you see the full benefits of surgery. Also, if he has some arthritis present in the knee then the inside will always have some thickening. Best of luck and I hope he heals well! Thank you for using Pet Coach.

Braces are rarely used if surgery is an option. In small dogs, they are not usually needed. Braces can cause some issues because the fit has to be absolutely perfect to avoid rubbing the skin or causing other joint damage. The best thing to do is “bed rest” and pain medications as prescribed by your vet.

Exercise should be strictly limited for the first six weeks post surgery. To help guide you with Sunday's recovering, I will put a link to a website that details exactly what needs to be done in regards to exercise after this surgery. The first few weeks, Sunday will likely be toe tapping before moving on to gingerly putting weight on her leg. By six weeks post surgery, she should be using her leg without limping, but it will still be at least another six weeks before she is allowed to run, jump, or play. https://www.webvets.com/Resources/resource.php?Anterior-Cruciate-Ligament-Surgery-Post-Operative-Care-44

A torn cruciate ligament in the knee is not something you need to rush to surgery for. I'm a rehab veterinarian and I usually recommend rest, anti inflammatory medication, and short leash walks for potty only. If she is improving over the next few weeks then she may recover well without surgery. If there is no improvement or she starts using it, then gets worse again then I do recommend surgery. It is very important to prevent any jumping and no explosive movements. Basically Gumbo needs to be leash walked only for up to three months for her to recover without surgery. Also if you have a veterinary rehab clinic near you taking her for treatment there would assist her recovery without surgery. If you have additional questions please request a consultation with me and I can answer them. This is the most common injury I see in my practice. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Gumbo.